I happens quite often that you make new friendships while on the road or that you are hosted by someone you are visiting. On such occasions you usually want to leave a small gift such that the person will remember you or just for the purpose of returning the favor.

Do you have ideas for small, cheap, light gifts, that are easily associated with you, your family or country, that you take them with you and hand out to people you meet? Let say in the amount of 10.

I always thought bills are a good idea, but it turns out that people often refuse to take it, because it is simply cash, even if the bills are small.
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crenateMay 21 '12 at 21:29

@mithy You are right specially if you give it to someone on official duty such as police officers or so... Some would even think you are trying to bribe them... Thats why you should give bills to people who are not on official duties.. for example someone you had a long chat with and he/she helped you in finding your way... or friends you made while traveling.. situations like that..
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MeNoTalkMay 21 '12 at 21:37

These make a great gift to give out along the way as they are both a great representation of my home country, as well as being suitably "cute" - plus they are cheap enough to be able to give out without concerns for the cost. Recently I've even started leaving them in hotel rooms when I checkout (clipped to a light or the fridge, or somewhere else that I know the maid will find it).

So far I've had two "sightings" of Koalas that I'd given out/left previously - one clipped to the maid cart in a hotel I had stayed in a few weeks earlier, and a second on the bag of a flight attendant as she was walking through an airport (and she even remembered me when I asked - I'd given it to her about a month earlier)

I also sometimes travel with a few small boxes of chocolates (Like these - 4 chocolates and about $1 each at my local supermarket). It's amazing the impact giving one of these to someone as a "thank you" can have during a trip - both on the person you give it to, but also on yourself for being able to actually thank someone that has made a trip more enjoyable for you!